Bella~
I push through the noisy hallway and step into the cafeteria, greeted by the comforting scent of coffee, fries, and academic chaos. The buzz of voices blends into a soundtrack of clinking trays and over caffeinated ambition.
I spot Eva by the window iced drink in hand, smirk already locked in and... with someone?
She already made a friend?
"You look like someone who just got stuck with circus rejects for a group project," she says by way of greeting.
"That's because I did."
She slides a muffin across the table without breaking eye contact. I take a bite, groaning like it's therapy.
"Word does travel quick oh and this is my new friend, Nyra," Eva adds casually, like this wasn't an ambush. The cute brunette beside her gives a warm smile.
"Hey there. I'm Bellarina, but you can call me Bella," I say, swallowing quickly.
Before Nyra can respond, a familiar voice drips into the conversation like honey over chaos.
"This is favoritism. I called you Bella and you nearly stabbed me with a pen."
I freeze mid chew and turn.
Zade.
Bag slung over one shoulder, water bottle in hand, that smug grin that says I'm here to ruin your peace, stylishly.
"Why are you here?" I ask, suspicious on instinct.
He drops into the seat beside me like he's earned it. "Followed your dramatic exit. Had a hunch muffins were involved. And look — I was right."
"You followed me?"
"I call it strategic teaming," he says, helping himself to a piece of my muffin like we've signed a truce I didn't agree to. "Besides, we're basically coworkers now, Bellarina."
Eva's eyes practically sparkle. "Oh, this is way better than I expected."
Nyra looks between us, mildly alarmed. She's about to find out what unfiltered chaos looks like.
"I hate both of you," I mumble, pointing between Zade and Eva.
Eva shrugs, sipping her drink. "No, you don't."
Zade leans in, conspiratorial. "Also, you didn't stop me from stealing the muffin. That's progress. That's... bonding."
I swat his hand as he goes for another piece. "Boundaries."
He smiles. "Duly noted." Reaches again anyway.
Eva snorts. "You know what? This might be my new favorite lunch show."
Zade turns to her with mock humility. "You're welcome. I bring plot twists and baked goods related drama."
"I'm gonna need a refund," I deadpan, but my mouth twitches.
He leans back, lounging like he owns the table and somehow, insted of kicking him out the window, I let him stay.
And that's when it hits me.
This isn't just the start of an unhinged group project.
This is the beginning of something... dangerously fun.
God help me.
Nyra~
I wasn't expecting drama with my iced caramel macchiato but here we are.
Eva and I had barely claimed our favorite window seat when a girl storms in like she's mid meltdown. Messy bun, fire in her eyes, and a muffin gone before it even touched the table.
Eva grins and introduces her like this is perfectly normal.
Bella waves, mid bite. "Hey there I'm Bellarina, but you can call me Bella,"
I smile back, but before I can say anything, chaos walks through the door.
And by chaos, I mean him.
He looks like he just stepped out of a YA romance cover tall, golden eyed, all confidence and trouble wrapped in a hoodie and varsity jacket. Without a word, he slides into the seat next to Bella like it's his table and we're all just extras.
Typical Zade. The cocky basketball captain with a fan club and a smirk that probably has its own Instagram account.
"This is blatant favoritism," he says, pointing a finger at Bella. "I called you Bella once and you nearly stabbed me with a pen."
Bella chokes on her muffin. Eva beams. I blink.
Okay. Plot twist.
They're bickering like it's foreplay. He steals a bite of her muffin, she slaps his hand, and somewhere between 'strategic teaming' and 'coworkers,' it hits me, this isn't just banter. It's a full blown verbal dance off, and Bella is definitely losing.
I glance at Eva.
She's watching with the enthusiasm of someone hiding popcorn under the table.
"You're enjoying this," I whisper.
"Way too much," she whispers back.
Honestly? Same.
Then Zade turns toward me.
"You…" he says, pointing with that same accusing finger. "I've seen you somewhere before."
I blink. "Uh, yeah. We go to the same school."
"No, somewhere else…" He squints, then snaps his fingers. "Dex's phone! That's it!"
My brain short circuits. Dex's phone?!
Why would Dex have my picture?
I can feel my face heating up, tomato mode: activated.
Zade leans back casually. "You're the girl who plays guitar, right? Music room girl. You're there when he goes for practice late, after basketball."
Wait—he's noticed me?
I've seen him a few times, sure. I'd be tidying the music room and hear him play. Never thought he even registered my existence.
Zade tilts his head, still trying to place it. "You and Dex were in that group performance last year, right?"
Oh. Right. The school concert. That explains it. Of course. That must be it. Dex probably took a group photo. No reason to spiral.
"Stop being delusional, Nyra," I scold myself silently.
But the damage is done. My blush is a full body experience, and Eva is now grinning at me like she just won the lottery.
"All aboard!" Eva declares dramatically. "Looks like we've got another ship setting sail!"
Bella nearly drops her muffin from laughing, while Zade just smirks over the rim of her drink.
And me? I sip my macchiato and try not to combust. Just as I'm about to say something to shut down their teasing, the bell rings, and a wave of students rushes toward the exits. The three heads at our table rise in sync, and since the girls and I have art next, Zade gives a lazy wave goodbye as we head off.
On the way to class, I catch snippets of the conversation between Eva and Bella. They're trading stories about their chaotic morning—Eva, it seems, had a run in with the arrogant rich boys, while Bella somehow got tangled up with the basketball crowd. Not bad for a first day at Edelmare. Definitely not boring.
Eva~
Mmm. The smell of fresh paint—heaven. This place is already claiming its spot as my sanctuary.
I take a few steps into the art room, letting my gaze drift over the high windows, the sunlight dappled desks, the stacked canvases leaning against the back wall. Then I hear it, someone calling out: "Nyra!"
I blink. Nyra? That's odd.
I glance at Bella, who raises an eyebrow.
"I thought she didn't really talk to anyone here," I murmur.
Bella shrugs, but her eyes stay fixed on Nyra. We both watch as she turns, hesitant at first, then walks toward a group of students huddled near the supply shelves. One of them a tall guy with messy curls and paint smudged hands grins at her like they've known each other forever.
"Did she say she transferred late?" Bella asks, voice low.
"Uh, no. She said she didn't really talk to anyone," I reply, trying to sound casual. But something tugs at my mind uneasy and sharp.
Nyra laughs at something the guy says. Not just a polite laugh more like a comfortable laugh. Like she's done it before.
Bella leans in slightly. "Weird, right?"
I nod slowly, eyes narrowing on them.
The guy says something else, and this time, I catch it.
"Still clumsy as ever, Ny," he teases, nudging her with his elbow.
Ny. Like a nickname.
She laughs again and swats his arm. "Shut up, Jake."
As Bella and I continue watching them, Nyra finally seems to remember we exist. Her expression shifts just a flicker and then she waves us over, tugging the guy along with her.
"This is my childhood friend, Jake," she says, tone light, as if it's nothing and also introduces us to him.
"Hey," he says with a lazy grin. "Jake Sinclair. Nice to meet you."
"Another Sinclair?" Bella repeats, blinking. Her voice is high with surprise, and I can tell she didn't mean to say that out loud.
Jake tilts his head. "You know Lexi?"
"Yeah, she's my classmate," Bella replies quickly.
"She's my twin sister," Jake says, like it's the most normal thing in the world.
Bella stares at him for a beat, then mumbles, "Now that I know, you two actually resemble each other a lot."
I just stand there, trying to catch up. Lexi? Twin? Childhood friend? there's so much to catch upon tonight.
Jake shifts, then casually slings an arm around Nyra's shoulder. She doesn't flinch. In fact, she leans into it like it's familiar like it's always been that way.
Bella crosses her arms, eyes narrowing. "Looks like someone's been holding out on us."
Yeah. Weird doesn't even begin to cover it.
Just like that we get to learn so many new things throughout the day and finally its time to go home and process everything that happened today.
Bella~
"Home sweet home," Eva sighs dramatically, face planting into her bed like it's been years since she saw it.
She stretches an arm toward me. "Come suffer beside me. We have so much tea to spill, it might flood this room."
I flop down next to her, both of us staring at the ceiling in exhausted silence. To think all this chaos unfolded in just one day it's actually insane.
One thing's for sure: our new school? Definitely not going to be boring.
Eventually, Eva drags herself to freshen up, bossing me around to do the same. I ignore her for the moment, choosing instead to scroll my phone like a true procrastinator.
That's when the notification pops up:
'Zade Morgan has sent you a request.'
I blink.
This boy... already found my social media? I think, biting back a smirk. Still, I accept it. We're in the same group for the class project, so there's no point pretending I won't have to interact with him.
The moment I hit "accept," a message pops up.
Text Exchange: Zade & Bella
Zade:
You still mad I stole your muffin or did the sugar kick in and mellow you out?
Bella:
Still mad. That was a double chocolate chip. I mourned it.
Zade:
I'll buy you a replacement. Consider it... a peace offering.
Bella:
Only if it comes without commentary this time.
Zade:
No promises. I'm charming by default. It's a curse.
Bella:
More like a plague.
Zade:
Plagues leave an impression too, Bella. Just saying.
Bella:
You did not just compare yourself to a plague.
Zade:
Legendary. Infectious. Hard to ignore. You're welcome.
Bella:
You're insufferable.
Zade:
And yet... you haven't blocked me.
Bella:
I'm reconsidering every life choice I've made.
Zade:
You'll thank me when this project wins the entire class over.
Bella:
If it doesn't crash and burn first.
Zade:
Either way, it'll be unforgettable. Like me.
I think to myself if he's always online or if he was just waiting for me to accept his request and stare at the screen, trying not to smile failing miserably. That's when Eva clears her throat like a sitcom sound effect.
I look up and she's giving me a horrified 'you better not be simping' look.
Oh god. Was I smiling? Out loud?
I chuck my phone aside like it's cursed and mutter something about going to freshen up.
When I come back, Eva's already cozy in bed, two steaming mugs of hot chocolate on the nightstand. The scent of cocoa and cinnamon fills the room like a warm hug.I crawl into bed beside her and reach for my mug.
Eva starts rambling about her day about how she got kicked out of one class (unintentionally), being completely ignored by the school's heartthrobs, then somehow befriending Nyra, and navigating through classes that range from surprisingly intense to straight up weird.
But I'm only half listening since I already knew parts of that from her during our break and art class, Zade's messages still playing in my head like a glitchy highlight reel. Eva nudges me with a suspicious squint.
"Okay, who are you and what have you done with the real Bella?"
"Huh?"
"You didn't even touch the hot chocolate. You always finish it in seconds."
I blink. She's right.
Oh no. Zade Morgan is living rent free in my brain. I sip my drink in panic.
"Alright, your turn. Spill it."
So I fill her in on eveything that happened today from my dramatic entrance to the class to getting assigned into a group with the most chaotic people to Zade's relentless texting game everything in detail. Her eyes widen with every word.
We end up talking about the school, how it feels almost too extravagant. Horse riding, fencing, archery like we walked into a secret royal academy rather than a regular prep school. There's something about it... almost ancient. Purposeful. Like everyone here knows something we don't.
"This school gives off serious royal and mysterious vibes," Eva mutters, eyes already drooping with sleep.
"Right?" I whisper back, but she's out cold two seconds later.
I turn off the lights and lie back beside her, the hum of the day finally settling into silence.
Classes, secrets, cryptic boys and mysterious school?
Yeah... this place is about to change everything.